[RESOLVED] Won't Crank

[jrohner]

The car I'm working on is a 1999 GSX 5-speed. I put an engine in it that I had rebuilt (still a 7-bolt). When I turn the key to start it, the fuel pump runs but it doesn't crank over. The small wire to the starter never get's power when turning the key to the start position. If I hook a wire up to the small wire on the starter to the battery, it cranks fine. To start the car I have to do that under the hood to crank it over, and have someone else hold the key in the start position.

I've check fuses both looking at them and with a volt meter. I've pushed the unlock button on the keyless entry and unlocked the door with the key, so I don't think it's something with the security. Is there a fuse or relay I'm not noticing or is a wire bad or would it be a bad ignition switch? I don't see a relay labeled anything that would have to do with cranking. When trying to start, the fuel pump only runs when the clutch pedal is down, so the clutch switch isn't the problem.



To reiterate, the car DOESN'T CRANK OVER. It's not that it cranks and doesn't fire up, it doesn't CRANK -- the starter does not run when turning the key.

I found the starter relay by the radio, is anything else the same?

Do any other cars use the same starter relay?

 

[#40Fan]

Does it have an anti-theft system?

Horn chips when you lock, flashing light, etc....?

 

[jrohner]

I don't see any aftermarket security crap.

 

[wancsta]

Take a look around the front/top of the tranny there are two plugs in the harness that need to be connected together. I believe the one end comes from the relay box. I wish I could be more specific but it was a while ago that this happened to me (yes on a 2g) with the exact same symptoms. It had us scratching out heads for hours. Good luck

edit: IIRC It may have been plugged in to the wrong connector also and needed to be swapped. You may want to unplug everything there and let the harness fall into it's natural positioning.

 

[steve]

Look and see if ECU pin 72 has 12v when you turn the key to START?

How many pins does your starter relay have? 4 or 5?

 

[awdboosted1]

the wire to the starter may be broke some where before it gets there

 

[jrohner]

I got it working. Evidently the wire to the starter is just a short wire with yet another plugin on it (a 2-prong plugin with just the 1 wire). The end at the wiring harness was taped to the harness, so that's why I never saw it.